Wrench

ABSTRACT

A wrench for gripping pipe and the like includes a housing having a chamber therein and a jaw member depending therefrom. A handle member has one portion within the chamber and an elongated portion extending outwardly through an open end of the housing opposite said jaw member. A jaw portion on said handle member extends outwardly through an elongated slot in the housing in facing relation with the jaw member and said housing and handle member are relatively movable to selectively adjust the space between the jaw member and jaw portion. Cooperating and interengaging fulcrum members on the jaw portion of the handle member and on the housing effect gripping of an object between the jaw member and the jaw portion in response to a movement of the handle member that pivots the jaw portion toward the jaw member.

United States Patent [191 Henricksen Aug. 14, 1973 WRENCH [76] Inventor:Robert J. Henrlcksen, Rt. 2, Box 75,

[22] Filed: July 29, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 167,121

[52] US. Cl. 81/147 [51] Int. Cl. 325d 13/24 [58] Field of Search81/142, 145, 147, 81/130 R, 129, 126, 146, 106, 110; 269/216,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,587,233 6/1926 Holloman81/146 Primary Examiner--Othell M. Simpson Assistant Examiner-James G.Smith Attorney Claude A. Fishbum, Orville 0. Gold et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A wrench for gripping pipe and the like includes ahousing having a chamber therein and a jaw member depending therefrom. Ahandle member has one portion within the chamber and an elongatedportion extending outwardly through an open end of the housing oppositesaid jaw member. A jaw portion on said handle member extends outwardlythrough an elongated slot in the housing in facing relation with the jawmember and said housing and handle member are relatively movable toselectively adjust the space between the jaw member and jaw portion.Cooperating and interengaging fulcrum members on the jaw portion of thehandle member and on the housing effect gripping of an object betweenthe jaw member and the jaw portion in response to a movement of thehandle member that pivots the jaw portion toward the jaw member.

' 8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 14, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 1IILJ Patented Aug. 14, 1973 3,752,018

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

A TTOWVA'VS The present invention relates to wrenches and moreparticularly to a wrench having a single moving part and fulcrum membersto effect pivotal movement of the single moving part for gripping of anobject between facing jaw members.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a wrenchwhich is easily and quickly adjusted to an object gripping position; toprovide such a wrench which is operative to effect a positive grip on apipe or the like positioned between jaws thereof; to provide such awrench having a single movable member with a jaw portion thereon whichis easily movable between an object engaging position and a disengagedposition; to provide such a wrench having fulcrum members operative toeffect positive gripping of an object between jaw portions of the wrenchin response to movement of the handle which pivots a jaw portion thereontoward a jaw portion on a housing of the wrench; to provide such awrench having resilient means to effect and maintain inter-engagement ofthe fulcrum members; and to provide such a wrench which is economical tomanufacture, durable in construction, and particularly well adapted forthe proposed used.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and examplecertain embodiments of this invention.

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include anexemplary embodiment illustrating various objects and features of thewrench of the present invention.

FIG. I is a perspective view of a wrench embodying features of thepresent invention and showing jaw members thereof in gripping engagementwith a pipe.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the wrench with the jaw membersshown in a disengaged position and portions broken away to betterillustrate the component parts thereof.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the wrench with portions broken away.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the wrench.

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the wrench.

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on .Line 6-6, FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on Lin 7--7, FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on Line 8-8, FIG. 4-

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention whichmay be embodied in variousforms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosedherein are not to be interpreted as limiting but merely as a basis forthe claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in theart to variously employ the present invention in virtually anyappropriate detailed structure.

an object between the jaws 5 and 6 in response to movement of the handlemember 4 pivoting the jaw 6 toward the jaw 5 of the housing member 3.

The housing 3 may be any suitable shape, however, in the structureillustrated, the housing 3 has an elongated portion 7 with spaced sidewalls 8 and 9 and an upper or top wall 10 and a lower or bottom wall 11defining an elongated chamber 12 that opens outwardly at one end 13 ofthe housing 3. The chamber 12 has a closed end M spaced from the end 13of the housing 3 and providing a thick wall 15 for strength as the jaw 5extends therefrom in depending relation to the lower or bottom wall 11.The jaw member 5 has a face 16 inclined or at an acute angle to thebottom wall 11 and said jaw has teeth or serrations l7 thereon inclinedtoward said bottom wall 11 whereby the jaw 5 is a fixed or outer jaw ofthe wrench. The housing 3 has an elongated slot 18 in the bottom wall 11extending from the jaw face 16 and terminating at 19 in spaced relationto the open end 113 of the housing 3. The bottom wall 11 extends towardthe open end 13 from the slot 18 and is then inclined upwardly wherebyan opening 20 to the chamber 12 is of reduced height. Ratchet members 21and 22 are fixed to the housing at each side of a portion of .the slot18 and have a plurality of longitudinally spaced depending teeth orabutments, said ratchet members being mounted in a manner and for apurpose as later described.

In the illustrated structure, the ratchet members 21 and 22 are securedto the side walls 8 and 9 respectively of the housing 3 by a pluralityof longitudinally spaced screws 23 extending upwardly through theratchet members 21 and 22 and into the side walls 8 and 9. The ratchetmembers 21 and 22 preferably have a width greater than the thickness ofthe respective side walls 8 and 9 and the ratchet members 2i and 22 haverespective exterior edges thereof positioned flush or in In thedisclosed embodiment of the present invention, the reference numeral 1generally designates a wrench for gripping an object, such as a pipe 2.The wrench 1 generally includes a housing member 3 and a handle member 4having respective jaws 5 and 6 that are relatively movable to adjust thespacing and to grip registry with exterior surfaces of the side walls 8and 9 whereby the ratchet members 21 and 22 have facing portionsextending inwardly of the side walls 8 and 9 to define a slot 24 betweenthe ratchet members that is less in width than the elongated slot 18which communicates with the chamber 12. It is preferred to recess theportions of the-ratchet members 21 and 22 into lower portions of thewalls 8 and 9. The recesses 25 are defined by surfaces 26 on the walls 8and 9 and inclined end surfaces 27 which are engaged by the top surface28 'to the respectiveratchet member and by inclined ends 29 respectivelyprovidinga dove tail mounting of the ratchet members on the housingmember 3.-

- The handle member 4 has a first portion 30 extending into the chamber12 and movable therein and a second portion 31' extending through theopening 20 in the end 13 of the housing 3 and extending therefrom to begripped by person using the wrench l. The handle member 4 has a sternportion 32 extending from the first'portion 30 and through the slot 24between the ratchet members 21 and 22. The jaw 6 is mounted on the stemportion 32 and is positioned in facing relation with the jaw 3 on thehousing 3 whereby the jaw6 is a movable or inner jaw of the wrench.

The jaw 6 has a face 33 inclined relative to the handle member 4 so asto be substantially parallel with the face 16 of the jaw 5 when the jaws5 and 6 are in the engaged position. The face 33 of the jaw 6 has teethor serrations 34 thereon inclined away from the bottom wall 111 therebythe teeth or serrations l7 and 34 are inclined in substantially oppositedirections when the jaws and 6 engage opposite sides of an objecttherebetween.

The jaw 6 on the stem portion 32 of the handle member 4 has an abutmentmember 35 which is selectively engageable with the ratchet members 21and 22. The abutment member 35 is mounted on the heel of the jaw 6 orspaced from the face 33 and has a plurality of upwardly extending teethor abutments 36 engageable with the depending teeth or abutments 37 ofthe ratchet members 21 and 22 to provide a fulcrum whereby movement ofthe handle member 4 to pivot the jaw 6 toward the jaw 5 effects grippingof an object between the jaws 5 and 6. The abutment member 35 ispreferably a hard long wearing material and, therefore, a separate piecesecured to a rear edge portion of the jaw 6 by weld, such as brazing orby screws or other fastening means.

Resilient means are provided within the housing 3 which act on thehandle member 4 to urge the abutment member 35 into engagement with theratchet members 21 and 22. In the illustrated structure, a first orlower resilient member 38 acts between the handle member and the ratchetmembers and a second or upper resilient member 39 acts between thehandle member and the upper wall of the housing. These resilient membersmay be mounted in any suitable manner as in slots or recesses, however,in the structure illustrated the lower resilient member 38 is mounted ona lower surface of the handle member 4 and is engageable with the upperedges of the ratchet members 21 and 22 and acts on the handle member 4substantially at a point above the abutment member 35. The second ofupper resilient member 39 is mounted on an upper surface of the handlemember 4 and is engageable with an interior surface 40 of the upper ortop wall 10 of the housing 3 and acts on the handle member 4 at a pointspaced from the first resilient member 38 toward the open end 13 of thehousing whereby the first and second resilient members 38 and 39 act asa couple cooperating to urge the abutment member 35 into engagement withthe ratchet members 21 and 22 on the housing 3 and to urge the jaw 6toward the jaw 5. The resilient members 38 and 39 are illustrated asleaf springs suitably secured to respective surfaces of the handlemember 4, as by a plurality of screws 41 and 42 respectively.

Assembly of the wrench 1 is accomplished by moving the second portion 31of the handle member 4 through the elongated slot 18 between the sidewalls 8 and 9 and into the housing member 3 and outwardly through theopening 20 in the end 13 of the housing. As best seen in FIGS. 4 to8-inclusive, the jaw 6 extends the full width of the housing member 3,therefore, the ratchet members 21 and 22 are secured to the side walls 8and 9 after the handle member 4 is in position within the housing 3. Theresilient members 38 and 39 are movable within the housing 3 and betweenfacing interior surfaces of the side walls 8 and 9, therefore, theresilient members 38 and 39 may be secured to the handle member 4 beforeor after the handle member 4 is positioned within the housing 3,however, it is preferred that the lower resilient member 38 be securedto the handle member 4 after the ratchet members 21 and 22 are securedto the side walls 8 and 9.

in using a wrench constructed as illustrated and described, the jawmember 5 on the housing 3 is positioned in engagement with one side ofan object to be gripped, such as a pipe 2, and the housing 3 is held inposition and the outwardly extending portion 31 of the handle member 4is moved toward the upper or top wall 10 thereby compressing the lowerresilient member 38 and moving the teeth on the abutment member 35 outof engagement with the teeth on the ratchet members 21 and 22 therebypermitting the jaw 6 and the stem portion 32 of the handle member 4 tobe moved toward the face 16 of the jaw 5 until the teeth or serrations34 on the face 33 of the jaw 6 engage the object to be gripped. Theteeth or serrations l7 and 34 engage respective opposite sides orsurfaces of the pipe 2 thereby gripping same between the jaws 5 and 6.

When the jaws 5 and 6 are in engagement with the pipe 2 or other object,force on the handle is lessened and resilient member 38 moves the handlemember 4 and jaw 6 upwardly to effect inter-engagement between the teethof the abutment member 35 and the ratchett members 21 and 22, thenmovement of the outward portion 31 of the handle member 4 toward thebottom or lower wall 11 effects gripping of and turning of the pipe 2.The ratchett members 21 and 22 and the abutment member 35 cooperate todefine a fulcrum for the jaw 6 on the handle member 4 to permit same tobe pivoted toward and away from the jaw S.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described oneform of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form orarrangement of parts herein described and shown.

What 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A wrenchcomprising:

a. a housing having wall portions defining a chamber therein;

b. a jaw member on said housing and extending therefrom;

c. an elongated handle member having a portion extending into saidchamber and movable therein;

d. ajaw on said handle member and positioned in facing relation withsaid jaw member on said housing, said handle member being movablelongitudinally of said housing to move said jaw toward and away fromsaid jaw member;

e. means on said jaw engageable with said housing to provide a fulcrumwhereby movement of said handle member to pivot said jaw toward said jawmember on said housing effects gripping of an object between said jawmember and said jaw;

f. said housing has an elongated slot in one of the wall portionsdefining said chamber; and

said handle member has aportion extending through said slot and said jawis mounted thereon.

2. A wrench as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a. said housing has longitudinally spaced abutment members thereon; and

b. said jaw has an abutment member thereon selectively engageable withthe abutment members on said housing to provide the fulcrum to pivotsaid jaw toward and away from said jaw member on said housing to varythe-spacing therebetween.

3. A wrench as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a. said housing has a pair of spaced ratchet members mounted thereon;

b. said ratchet members are positioned substantially parallel with saidelongated slot and with one of said ratchet members on each of theopposite sides thereof;

c. said ratchet members each have a plurality of longitudinally spacedabutment members thereon; and

d. said jaw has an abutment member mounted thereon and selectivelyengageable with the abutment members on said ratchet members to providethe fulcrum to pivot said jaw toward and away from said jaw member onsaid housing to vary the spacing therebetween.

4. A wrench as set forth in claim 2 including resilient means in saidhousing and acting on said handle member to urge said abutment member onsaid jaw into engagement with said abutment members on said housing.

5. A wrench comprising:

a. a housing having wall portions defining a chamber therein;

b. ratchet members on said housing and positioned to define an elongatedslot communicating with said chamber;

c. ajaw member on said housing and extending therefrom, said jaw memberbeing adjacent one end of said slot;

d. an elongated handle member having a portion extending into saidchamber and movable therein and a portion extending through said slotbetween said ratchet members;

e. a jaw on said portion of said handle member extending through saidslot between said ratchet members, said jaw being in facing relationwith said jaw member on said housing and movable toward and away fromsame;

f. fulcrum means on said jaw engageable with said ratchet members onsaid housing to provide a fulcrum whereby movement of said handle memberto pivot said jaw toward said jaw member on said housing effectsgripping of an object between said jaw member and said jaw;

g. resilient means in said housing and acting on said handle member tourge said fulcrum means on said jaw into engagement with said ratchetmembers on said housing.

6. A wrench as set forth in claim 5 including:

a. first resilient means in said housing and acting on said handlemember at a point above said fulcrum means on said jaw; and

b. second resilient means in said housing and acting on said handlemember at a point spaced from said first resilient means and adjacent another end of said slot whereby said first and second resilient meanscooperate to urge said fulcrum means on said movable jaw into engagementwith said ratchet members on said housing and to urge said jaw towardsaid jaw member on said housing.

7. A wrench as set forth in claim 5 wherein:

a. said ratchet members eachhave a plurality of spaced abutment membersthereon; and

b. said fulcrum means on said jaw has an abutment member thereon andselectively engageable with the abutment members on said ratchet membersto provide the fulcrum to pivot said jaw toward and away from said jawmember on said housing to vary the spacing therebetween.

8. A wrench as set forth in claim 5 wherein:

a. said housing has opposed side walls and an upper wall and a lowerwall defining said chamber;

b. said housing has an end wall closing one end of said chamber andhaving said jaw member extending therefrom;

c. said jaw member is positioned to have a rearwardly facing surfacethereof fonning an acute angle with said lower wall;

d. said jaw has a forwardly facing surface positioned in opposedrelation with said rearwardly facing surface of said jaw member; and

e. said rearwardly facing surface of said jaw member on said housing andsaid forwardly facing surface of said jaw each have a plurality ofspaced serrations thereon.

i l =l

1. A wrench comprising: a. a housing having wall portions defining achamber therein; b. a jaw member on said housing and extendingtherefrom; c. an elongated handle member having a portion extending intosaid chamber and movable therein; d. a jaw on said handle member andpositioned in facing relation with said jaw member on said housing, saidhandle member being movable longitudinally of said housing to move saidjaw toward and away from said jaw member; e. means on said jawengageable with said housing to provide a fulcrum whereby movement ofsaid handle member to pivot said jaw toward said jaw member on saidhousing effects gripping of an object between said jaw member and saidjaw; f. said housing has an elongated slot in one of the wall portionsdefining said chamber; and g. said handle member has aportion extendingthrough said slot and said jaw is mounted thereon.
 2. A wrench as setforth in claim 1 wherein: a. said housing has longitudinally spacedabutment members thereon; and b. said jaw has an abutment member thereonselectively engageable with the abutment members on said housing toprovide the fulcrum to pivot said jaw toward and away from said jawmember on said housing to vary the spacing therebetween.
 3. A wrench asset forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said housing has a pair of spacedratchet members mounted thereon; b. said ratchet members are positionedsubstantially parallel with said elongated slot and with one of saidratchet members on each of the opposite sides thereof; c. said ratchetmembers each have a plurality of longitudinally spaced abutment membersthereon; and d. said jaw has an abutment member mounted thereon andselectively engageable with the abutment members on said ratchet membersto provide the fulcrum to pivot said jaw toward and away from said jawmember on said housing to vary the spacing therebetween.
 4. A wrench asset forth in claim 2 including resilient means in said housing andacting on said handle member to urge said abutment member on said jawinto engagement with said abutment members on said housing.
 5. A wrenchcomprising: a. a housing having wall portions defining a chambertherein; b. ratchet members on said housing and positioned to define anelongated slot communicating with said chamber; c. a jaw member on saidhousing and extending therefrom, said jaw member being adjacent one endof said slot; d. an elongated handle member having a portion extendinginto said chamber and movable therein and a portion extending throughsaid slot between said ratchet members; e. a jaw on said portion of saidhandle member extending through said slot between said ratchet members,said jaw being in facing relation with said jaw member on said housingand movable toward and away from same; f. fulcrum means on said jawengageable with said ratchet members on said housing to provide afulcrum whereby movement of said handle member to pivot said jaw towardsaid jaw member on said housing effects gripping of an object betweensaid jaw member and said jaw; g. resilient means in said housing andacting on said handle member to urge said fulcrum means on said jaw intoengagement with said ratchet members on said housing.
 6. A wrench as setforth in claim 5 including: a. first resilient means in said housing andacting on said handle member at a point above said fulcrum means on saidjaw; and b. second resilient means in said housing and acting on saidhandle member at a point spaced from said first resilient means andadjacent an other end of said slot whereby said first and secondresilient means cooperate to urge said fulcrum means on said movable jawinto engagement with said ratchet members on said housing and to urgesaid jaw toward said jaw member on said housing.
 7. A wrench as setforth in claim 5 wherein: a. said ratchet members each have a pluralityof spaced abutment members thereon; and b. said fulcrum means on saidjaw has an abutment member thereon and selectively engageable with theabutment members on said ratchet members to provide the fulcrum to pivotsaid jaw toward and away from said jaw member on said housing to varythe spacing therebetween.
 8. A wrench as set forth in claim 5 wherein:a. said housing has opposed side walls and an upper wall and a lowerwall defining said chamber; b. said housing has an end wall closing oneend of said chamber and having said jaw member extending therefrom; c.said jaw member is positioned to have a rearwardly facing surfacethereof forming an acute angle with said lower wall; d. said jaw has aforwardly facing surface positioned in opposed relation with saidrearwardly facing surface of said jaw member; and e. said rearwardlyfacing surface of said jaw member on said housing and said forwardlyfacing surface of said jaw each have a plurality of spaced serrationsthereon.